Harlan Lincoln House hosts Tintypes and Teacups lawn party

By Gretchen Teske, Mt. Pleasant News

Sunshine and 80 degrees proved to be the perfect backdrop for the Tintypes and Teacups lawn party at the Harlan Lincoln House on Saturday.

The idea behind the event was to showcase the history behind photography in Mt. Pleasant. The museum hosts two exhibits every year and the idea to host one based on photopgraphy had been on the mind of Harlan Lincoln House Director, Anna Villareal, for quite some time. Villareal says that between 1840-1900 there were 29 photographers in Mt. Pleasant. The photographs were known as ?tintypes? because they were traditionally printed on tin as it was the cheapest medium for the practice. Also around that time period lawn parties were popular, she said, and the idea to host a tea party as well just brought everything together.

?Today we have such easy access to images and at that time we didn?t,? she said. ?It?s so interesting to look so retrospectively at something that is so commonplace today.?

Villareal said her goal for the exhibit was to cause guests to think about the origins of photography and appreciate the history and origins it has in Mt. Pleasant. She said that by seeing history, through pictures, and seeing the tools used to capture history, historic cameras, visitors can leave with a better understanding of why history is important and how it can be used to learn from in the future.

Learning from history and reaching people by bringing in a variety of topics is her goal for the museum. ?I want them to realize that the history of Mt. Pleasant is so deep,? she said. ?With historic homes, so often people think if they?ve been through once, they know the whole story. I think that by changing the exhibit a couple times a year allows us to reach different people and show we have such a capacity to look at history through different lenses.?

She says by putting together the exhibits, they are allowing themselves to reach more people and tell more stories by branching into new topics such as photography. Two of Mt. Pleasant?s earliest photographers were featured during the event. The Leisenring and Dyall studios were chosen because they photographed the Lincoln grandchildren most frequently. The Leisenring Bros. studio opened in Mt. Pleasant in 1873 and the Dyall studio, which began in Mt. Pleasant. Relatives have kept the family business open and it is still in operation today.

Pat White, a member of the executive board for the Harlan Lincoln House, said the inspiration for the day was to promote hospitality and appreciation for local history. As a family with small children walked through, she explained that by opening up the museum to new exhibits, they are able to reach and connect to younger audiences, too. She explained that the Harlan Lincoln House was a family home and the pictures of the grandkids reflect that. ?I think just coming into the house, kids this age can relate to going to visit relatives,? she said. ?This is a hands-on way for them to relate to that.?